[p7wang]

Is the cooling system in a Bolt EV a lot simpler and less maintenance than in an ICE vehicle that has a radiator and requires a "coolant flush" service every 2 years or so? Are coolant flushes ever needed with a Bolt EV? How often need to replace the coolant?

Coolant flush at 150k miles.

Chevrolet Bolt Requires Almost No Maintenance For First 150,000 Miles

A quick look at the maintenance schedule for the Chevrolet Bolt reveals that almost zero maintenance is required for the first 150,000 miles.

insideevs.com

 

[RichCapeCod]

150,000 miles or five years per the manual.

Rich

 

[Marspilgrim]

Is the cooling system in a Bolt EV a lot simpler and less maintenance than in an ICE vehicle that has a radiator and requires a "coolant flush" service every 2 years or so? Are coolant flushes ever needed with a Bolt EV? How often need to replace the coolant?

There is a coolant system flush at 150K miles and is basically the only scheduled maintenance, so yes you can almost consider it zero maintenance. There are 3 coolant loops in the Bolt. I'm expecting the flush to cost about $600. You will still have suspension wear items at some point, tires, wipers and fluid. It already has all the mileage 98% of people need. Will probably keep this about 12 years until I retire and at that point we will probably trade it and our Forester in for one new EV that has all the features and safety systems the future brings and that will get me to my grave.

 

[Eriamjh1138]

If you do not use the brakes often enough for hard stops, I guarantee you, you will need Caliper Sevice and have rusty rotors, glazed or whatever, eventually if you live in an area where it rains regularly or if there is snow.

The calipers need to be exercised Or they will lock in place. It’s true for any car Exposed to the elements. Use it or lose it.

I recommend moving the caliper pins by hand every two years at a minimum. Firmly brake from 30-40mph to a dead stop a few times a month. Use your parking brake for sure!

The recommended service does not Consider lack of use of these things. Tesla owners are learning this.

 

[kimbo]

If you do not use the brakes often enough for hard stops, I guarantee you, you will need Caliper Sevice and have rusty rotors, glazed or whatever, eventually if you live in an area where it rains regularly or if there is snow.

The calipers need to be exercised Or they will lock in place. It’s true for any car Exposed to the elements. Use it or lose it.

I recommend moving the caliper pins by hand every two years at a minimum. Firmly brake from 30-40mph to a dead stop a few times a month. Use your parking brake for sure!

The recommended service does not Consider lack of use of these things. Tesla owners are learning this.

Sounds like very good advice. My 2017 sounds like it has a sticky caliper in the left front. I drive using L mode all the time, and it clicks at very low speed when the mechanical breaks finally engage, and clicks again when I take off. If I switch to D mode there's no clicking, in fact after using D mode then L mode stops clicking for a while, but then returns. This clicking happens at very low speeds, and from a dead stop, on smooth flat terrain so it's not struts or anything. The car has less than 25,000 mi. but Central Florida weather breeds corrosion. I'm going to try the hard braking and see how long L mode is well behaved afterward. Thanks for the tip.

 

[M1A4ME]

Compared to the rest of mine, it sure is.

My 05 Silverado is a "the more you drive it, the more you work on it" vehicle. Don't think I'll be replacing the power steering cooler on the Bolt. No oil/oil filter to change. No transfer case to drain and refill. No transmission to drain and refill. No radiator to leak and require replacement.

While I've not had a lot of issues with the 435iX (none really) a lot of people seem to have a lot of work (expensive work) done to theirs on a regular basis. Hard for me to believe some of that work costs as much as they pay dealers to have it done.

I'm looking forward to driving the Bolt and not having to work on it like I do that darn truck.

 

[desiv]

Aarrrghh!!! Another item!!

First, its those darn tire rotations!!!
And between 60k-70k, I had to replace the tires!!!!
And did I mention, I have to sometimes put AIR in the tires!!!!

Then, it's the wiper fluid!!! It's like it drinks that stuff!!!!
And wiper blades!! er.. well, I haven't had to replace them yet, but I know I will!!

And then yesterday, my car gives me another one!!!

I had to replace the battery in my keyfob!!!!

Will this ever end!?!?!
And only at 90k... Oh, the humanity!!!

;-)

 

[shrox]

Aarrrghh!!! Another item!!

First, its those darn tire rotations!!!
And between 60k-70k, I had to replace the tires!!!!
And did I mention, I have to sometimes put AIR in the tires!!!!

Then, it's the wiper fluid!!! It's like it drinks that stuff!!!!
And wiper blades!! er.. well, I haven't had to replace them yet, but I know I will!!

And then yesterday, my car gives me another one!!!

I had to replace the battery in my keyfob!!!!

Will this ever end!?!?!
And only at 90k... Oh, the humanity!!!

;-)

You forgot that bright ball of light that traverses the sky and make me squint like Clint Eastwood.

 

[EV Engineering]

I'm at over 125,000 miles, and I'm still likely 6 months or more away from my first scheduled maintenance. I'm on my second set of tires, but the brake pads still look brand new. I've probably gone through five or six gallons of wiper fluid. I'm on my second set of wiper blades, and I'm a couple of cabin air filters in. Other than that, I can't really think of any maintenance items.

I've seen about 8% battery degradation from when I first bought it. I replaced a cracked windshield, and I will eventually need to replace the front grill and bumper due to impacts. Otherwise, the car still feels brand new.

What is your estimated Kwh pulled by Telek PIDs?

 

[Sean Nelson]

Aarrrghh!!! Another item!!

You forgot the cabin air filter...

 

[desiv]

You forgot the cabin air filter...

You're right! I did have to do that!!!!
See, I can't even keep track of the plethora of things this ravenous beast demands!!!

 

[MisterJJ]

Well, just going off the top of my head, here's a list of ICE-related stuff I had to do for my Audi A3 over 200k miles:
Gas filter (2)
Fuel transfer pump
Coil packs (4)
Spark plugs (12)
Mechatronics unit ($1200)
Air filters (8)
Oil (about 100 quarts)
Oil filters (20)
Valve cover gasket (3)
Timing belt/water pump/rollers (3)
Thermostat (3)
Oil filter/coolant housing (2)
Turbo bypass valve (1)
Accessory belt (3)
Engine mounts (3)
Timing chain
Timing chain cover gasket (2)
Timing chain tensioner
PCV valve (3)
Oil pan gasket
Cylinder head gasket
Cylinder head bolts
Transmission oil/filter (5)
Fuel pump cam follower (5)
Variety of gaskets and single-use stretch bolts
And not so much parts but a PITA, back-breaking job, manual valve cleaning (3)

Can you see why I got an EV?

 

[duncanator]

Well, just going off the top of my head, here's a list of ICE-related stuff I had to do for my Audi A3 over 200k miles:
Gas filter (2)
Fuel transfer pump
Coil packs (4)
Spark plugs (12)
Mechatronics unit ($1200)
Air filters (8)
Oil (about 100 quarts)
Oil filters (20)
Valve cover gasket (3)
Timing belt/water pump/rollers (3)
Thermostat (3)
Oil filter/coolant housing (2)
Turbo bypass valve (1)
Accessory belt (3)
Engine mounts (3)
Timing chain
Timing chain cover gasket (2)
Timing chain tensioner
PCV valve (3)
Oil pan gasket
Cylinder head gasket
Cylinder head bolts
Transmission oil/filter (5)
Fuel pump cam follower (5)
Variety of gaskets and single-use stretch bolts
And not so much parts but a PITA, back-breaking job, manual valve cleaning (3)

Can you see why I got an EV?

At 92k, I had the coolant pump and radiator replaced in my 2015 A3. I traded it in for the Bolt because I got really tired of a minimum 1k per trip to Audi for seemingly every service. I was on top of all services but that vehicle tried to blast my finances every step of the way. Never again, Audi.

 

[p7wang]

At 92k, I had the coolant pump and radiator replaced in my 2015 A3. I traded it in for the Bolt because I got really tired of a minimum 1k per trip to Audi for seemingly every service. I was on top of all services but that vehicle tried to blast my finances every step of the way. Never again, Audi.

Wow, almost like shopping at Costco... always at least $100 and I have no idea why. LOL

 

[ARob]

At 92k, I had the coolant pump and radiator replaced in my 2015 A3. I traded it in for the Bolt because I got really tired of a minimum 1k per trip to Audi for seemingly every service. I was on top of all services but that vehicle tried to blast my finances every step of the way. Never again, Audi.

I had similar experiences with a 2007 A6, nearly every service was $1K or more.